Yelena Isinbayeva in pictures

Yelena Isinbayeva in pictures as she shuts up her critics and storms back to the top of the female pole vault world! Yelena has set a new world record of 16 feet, 7 1/4 inches at the Weltklasse Golden League athletics meeting in the Letzigrund stadium in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday. "I was surprised it was so easy," Isinbayeva said. "I feel great. It's really unbelievable just after such a great defeat in Berlin, but I'm happy that I was defeated. Otherwise, I wouldn't be so hungry for the world record."

First the tense anticipation and concentration, every muscle in her body taut:



The muscled Yelena Isinbayeva clears the bar:



Yelena Isinbayeva, a picture of sporting triumph and athletic beauty:



The prestigious Spanish prize for sport, the Prince of Asturias Award has been awarded to Russian pole vault champion Yelena Isinbaeva. She is considered to be the best pole vaulter of all times and is the only female to clear the five metre mark. She has set an amazing 27 world records in this sport. The Prince of Asturias Award is awarded annually across eight categories.